Selective signaling system



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1a INVENTOR'.

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I Patented Nov. 12,, 1929 UNITED s'rA'rea-rAraur OFFICE STANLEY J, TURBEFF, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB TO THE UNION SWITCH &

IGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 01! Pmmvama SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM:

Application filed July 19, 1928. Serial No. 298,955.

My invention relates to selective signaling systems, and particularly to systems nvolving a plurality of indicatlon transmitt ng de-. vices which are selectively controlledm such 6 manner that indications may be transm 1tted by selected ones of such devices 1n success1 on to prevent interference between different 1ndications.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and w ll then polnt out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the apparatus comprises a plurality of indication transmitting devices here shown as four in number, and designated by the reference characters K K K", and K, respectively Each of the devices K'may be constructed 1n anysuitable manner, and as here shown, these devices are illustrated diagramamtically as code transmitters of the usual and well known form, each; comprising an operating arm 2 biased to a'normal position in which all of the arms are illustrated in full lines on the drawing, and controllin a code wheel 5 WhlCh operates a contact 6. Vhen the arm 2 of one'of the devices K is moved to its reverse position (indicated by dotted lines in the drawing) and released, the arm slowly returns to its normal position and during this operation, the associated code wheel 5 is rotated to cause periodic operation of contact 6. It will be noted that each arm 2 also controls a contact 3 which is arranged to be closed only when the arm occupies its normal position. The purpose of contacts 3 will be explained in detail hereinafter. I

The devices'K are controlled. in pltlt by a plurality of relays R, R, R and one of which is associated with each of the coding devices K. The relays It may be controlled by means forming no art of the present inthe sake of simplicity. It is' suflicient for present pur oses to state that each relay R is controlled apparatus, the condition of which is to be indicated'at a distant point by means of signals transmitted from the vention and omitted mm the drawing for coding devices K. The relays R are each controlled in such manner that when an indication is to be transmitted from one. of the devices K, the corresponding relay H becomes energized, and this relay remains in its energized condition until the device K has been operated. One form of apparatus for controllingthe relays R in the manner just described is disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,650,575, issued November 22, 1927, to H. A. Wallace, for Railway trafiic governing apparatus. For example, the relays R R R and R of the present application may be controlled by circuits similar to the control circuits for relays W W W" and W respectively, shown in Fig. 3 of the patent referred to above.

The devices K are controlled in part by a pivoted lever 7 which is driven. by a motor M. The devices K are arranged about the lever 7 in such manner that the arms 2 of these devices intersect the path of travel of the lever 7. It will be plain, therefore, that as the lever 7 is rotated, due to operation of motor M, the lever engages arms 2 of devices K successively, moving each arm, in order, to its reverse position, and then releasing the arm to permit it to return toits normal position.

The lever 7 carries a brush 8 which cooperates wit-h four fixed contact segments A ,.A A", and A for a purpose which will be described hereinafter. u

In describing the operation of the apparatus, I will first assume that relays'R and R3 become energized and that relays R and R are de-energized. A pick-up circuit is then closed for a stick relay S, which circuit may be traced from a suitable source of energy such as a battery B, through wires 9, 11 and 12, contact 3 of device K, wire 14, contact 3 ofdevice K wire 15, contact 3 of device K wire 16, contact 3 of device K wires 17 and 18, front contact 19 of. relay R wires 20, 55, 5.6 and 57, winding of relay S, and wires 21, 22 and 23, back to battery B. It will be seen that the circuit just traced is provided with a branch including front contact 58 of relay R and will also be noted that two other branches are provided for this circuit including front contact 59- of 'ciated therewith opens,

relay R and front contact 70 of relay R, respectively. It follows that the energization of any one of relays R will energize relay S, provided all of the arms 2 of devices K occupy their normal positions. When relay S becomes energized, current flows from battery B, through wires 24 and 25, front contact 26 of relay S, wire 27, back contact 28 of relay P, wire 29, motor M and wire 30 back to battery B. Motor M is therefore energized, and drives lever 7 in a counterclockwise direction as shown in the drawing. As a result lever 7 engages arm 2 of device K thereby moving this arm away from its normal position. As soon as the movement of this arm 2 commences, the contact 3 assothereby interrupting the pick-up circuit for relay S. Lever 7 and arm 2 are both of conducting material, however, and when these members are in engagement, current flows from battery B, through wires 9, 11 and 31, arm 2 of device K lever 7, wire 32, front contact 33 of relay S, wire 34, winding of relay S, and wires 21, 22 and 23, back to battery B. It follows, therefore, that a stick circuit is closed for relay S as soon as lever 7 engages arm 2. Relay S therefore remains energized, and the motor M continues to operate. When the lever 7 has moved arm 2 to its full reverse position, as shown in the dotted lines, the lever moves out of engagementv with the arm, and permits the arm to return to its normal position. It should be noted, however, that when lever 7 moves out of engagement with arm 2 the stick circuit just traced for relay S is interrupted, so that this relay becomes de-energized and stops motor M. During the return of arm 2 of device K to its. normal position the code wheel 5 is rotated as explained hereinbefore to operate contact 6. Each time contact 6 is closed, current flows from battery B, through wires 9, 11, 31 and 41, contact 6 of device K wire 42, front contact 43 of relay R wires 44, 45, 46 and 47, primary 49 of transformer D, and wires 48 and 23 back to battery B. The secondary 50 of transformer D is constantly connected with line wires 1 and 1 and it follows that the operationof device K delivers to the line wires 1 and 1 a definite code which may operate apparatus at a distant point in any desired manner.

WVhen the code delivered by device K has been completed, relay R becomes de-energized. Arm- 2 of device K closes contact 3 when this arm returns to its normal position, and the pick-up circuit for relay S is then closed over front contact 58 of relay R Relay S therefore again picks up to re-close the circuit for motor M. Lever 7 is then rotated If into engagement with arm 2 of device K whereupon, the stick circuit is closed for relay S to continue the operation of the motor until the lever 7 reaches the point of disengagement with arm 2. It should be noted, however, that when lever 7 has moved arm 2 of device K to its full reverse position, brush 8 on the lever engages the segment A. Under these conditions, a second stick circuit is closed for relay S from battery B over wires 24, 35, 36, and 37, back contact 38 of relay R wire 39, segment A brush 8, lever 7, wire 32, front contact 33 of relay S, wire 34, winding of relay S, and wires 21, 22 and 23, back to battery B. It follows, therefore, that even after lever 7 moves out of engagement with arm 2 of device K to allow this device to return to its normal position, relay S is held closed and motor M continues to operate, to rotate lever 7 into engagement with arm 2 of device K. During the latter ortion of the movement of lever 7, device 2 is, of course, returning to its normal osition to operate contact 6 of this device. ince relay R is de-energized, however, contact 40 is open, so that the contact 6 of device K is disconnected from transformer D and no code is supplied to transformer D by device K It is therefore unnecessary to halt operation of lever 7 while device K is operating its contact 6. When the lever 7 engages arm 2 of device K it actuates this arm to its reverse position, whereupon, the device K is released and commences to operate. Under these conditions, brush 8 on lever 7 engages segment A but this segment is now disconnected from battery B at back contact 60 of relay R and the stick circuit for relay S is open. Relay S therefore becomes de-energized, and stops motor M. Lever 7 is therefore at rest while device K is returning to its normal position. Each time contact 6 of device K is closed, current flows from battery B, through wires 9 and 51, contact 6 of device K wire 52, front contact 53 of relay R wires 54, 46, and 47, primary 49 of trans former D, and wires 48 and 23, back to battery B. The operation of device K therefore supplies to line wires 1 and 1, through transformer D, a distinctive code correspond ing to code wheel 5 of device K At the conclusion of this code, relay R becomes de-energized and since all of the relays R are now de-energized, the apparatus remains in the position which it then occupies.

It will be plain from the foregoing that when any relay R is energized, lever 7 is rotated to engage the devices K in succession until the device has been operated to correspond to the relay then energized, whereupon, the lever pauses until the last operated device has returned to its normal position during which return movement, the corresponding code is delivered to the line wires. two or more of relays R are energized at one and the same time, tinuously by motor M until it operates the device K corresponding to one of the energized relays; the lever then pauses until lever 7 is rotated conthis device has delivered its codeto the line wires The lever is then driven around until it operates the next device K corresponding to an energized relay R, whereupon, the lever again pauses until the corresponding code has been delivered to the line wires. This operation continues until all of the devices correspondin to the energized relays have been operate the lever 7 remaining in the position to which it was last moved until the apparatus is again set into operation by the energization of a relay R. a

It will be plain from the foregoing that should two or more relays R become energized at the same time, the corresponding codes will be delivered to the line wires in succession, thereby preventing the possibility of operation of several devices K simultaneously. It will also be observed that although the devices K are operated in succession as the lever 7 is rotated, only the devices which have their corresponding relays R energized, are connected with transformer D, and hence only these selected devices deliver their codes to the line wires.

In apparatus of the type here involved the line wires 1 and 1 may sometimes be supplied. with codes from other points, andm order to prevent interference between different codes I provide relay P connected across theline wires and having a back contact 28 included in the circuit for motor M. If a code is being supplied to the line wires relay means controlled ,by each arm for transmit-l ting a distinctive indication as the arm returns to its normal position provided the associated relay is energized, a stick relay, a circuit for said motor controlled by a front ,contact of said stick relay, means for energizing said stick relay when an one relay in said series is energized and a said arms occupy their normal positions,and means 'for subse uently holding said stick relay energized w en said lever engages one of said arms and also when any arm is returning to its normal osition provided the rela sociated with such arm is de-energize another of said relays is energized.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

'STANLEYJ. TURREFF.

and

P is energized and motor M cannot be operated until the conclusion of this code, even though one of the relays R picks up.

Although I have herein shown and dev scribed only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various chan es and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the ap ended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim is: 2

1. In combination, a series of relays, a plurality of operating arms one associated with each ,relay and each biased to a normal position, a lever, a motor for driving said lever to engage said arms in succession to' move the arms to their operated positions, means controlled by each arm for transmitting a distinctive indication as the arm returns ,to its normal position provided the associated relay in energized,a circuit for said motor arranged to be closed when any one of said relays is energlzed and all said arms occupy their normal positions, means for also.

energizing said motor when said lever engages any one of said arms, and means for energlzmg said motor when any arm is returmng to its normal position provided the associated relay is de-energized and another relay is energized.

2. In combination, a series of relays, a

roe 

